On Your Mark

Chapter 15

I find myself in the middle of the dance floor. The moon had arrived not long ago and the lanterns were lit soon after. A crowd of people huddled around me, my family standing closest, not a drop of fear or worry could be sensed among us. A small woman wheels out a large and extravagant cake, pushing it directly in front of me. She lights a solitary candle on the top of the cake.

My mother steps forward and the entire crowd bows to her, to their Luna.

"Tonight, at the stroke of midnight, my daughter will turn eighteen and under the Moon Goddesses light, she will have her first shift and truly become one of us." She looks at me fondly with tears in her eyes. "My beautiful baby girl, Alexandria. I wish you a safe and easy journey. Happy birthday."

Many mumbled well wishes, prayers, and hopes echo around me as I blow out the candle. The small round woman wheels the cake away and begins cutting it in the distance for everyone to enjoy. The soft hum of a band begins to play in the background and my father steps into view, damp cheeks and glassy eyed.

"May I have the first dance, Darling?"

I smile at his request and place my hand in his. The song does not last long and before it finishes, I am passed to Frederick and then to Daniel and then to Isaac. My feet begin to throb and I beg him to allow me to remove my shoes, but their removal does not soothe the ache. The song ends and just as I think I have found my reprieve, my hand is taken from Isaac's and I am whisked back on to the dance floor.

I roll my eyes, not wanting to look at my partner, but the familiar tingle spreads across my skin, forcing me to look up into his blue eyes. Sam's hand is carefully placed at the small of my back as he spins me away from my brother.

"Where have you been," I ask.

"Around," he answers vaguely. I stare at him, imploring him to give me a better answer and he smiles, softening under my glare. "I had a talk with my cousin, that's all."

"A talk," I repeat. "About?"

"You, of course." He chuckles.

"You didn't have to do that," I tell him.

"Yes." He nods. His expression is firm, unlike the soft features on his face and I can tell he's serious. His eyes meet mine, a much darker blue than before, "I did."

We spin around the floor perfectly in sync. I can feel people watching us, but their stares make me feel nothing, it's as if they don't exist. All that matters to me is the look on Sam's face as he pulls me closer to him. His blue eyes hold mine and his fingers dig into me the longer we dance. I don't know how many songs play - I am lost in him and him in me.

"Are you scared," he whispers. I furrow my brows for a moment, but quickly shake my head. He grins, nodding, "good girl."

"Excuse me." Our perfect moment is interrupted and the music goes fuzzy as the world speeds up. We both, begrudgingly, look away from one another to the intruder. His smug expression pairs with the glistening of his scaly skin and his cold beady eyes stare into mine, "can I cut in?"

"No," Sam answers for me.

"I wasn't asking you," Gregory growls. His beady eyes land on mine again, "you will dance with me."

"I would prefer to stay with Sam," I say firmly, not hiding my distaste for him.

"I don't care what you'd prefer." A sly grin spreads across his face. He aggressively takes my hand out of Sam's, ripping me away from him and holding me tightly in his grasp. "You'll do as you're told. Refusing me is rude, Alexandria. You don't want to be rude."

"I don't give a fu-"

"Language," he sings. I glower at him, hating his genuinely amused and happy expression. He jostles me, pressing his chest to mine and moaning in my ear, "I quite like this."

"Okay," I snarl, pushing away from him. "That's enough of that. I think we're done here."

"Don't be silly." He chuckles, squeezing me tight to him, "the song is far from over."

I roll my eyes and do my best to ignore his humming. He lifts my feet off the ground, carrying me around when I refuse to move my own feet. The song ends but his hold on me does not loosen. I scowl at him, "the song is over. Put me down."

"I would prefer a second dance." He smirks.

"I don't care what you'd prefer," I fire back, using his own words against him as I knee him in the groin. He drops me immediately, hunching over with a groan. I lean into his ear, holding his head steadily in place and with a nasty fake smile, I spit, "you'll do as you're told."

Isaac and Sam are quick to my side, putting distance between me and Gregory.

"Are you okay," Isaac asks, looking at my hand. I hadn't noticed how tightly he was holding me, but he had managed to draw blood, digging his claws into my skin.

Samuel shoves his cousin, growling and completely blocking me from his view, "I warned you."

"What are you going to do, little cousin," Gregory taunts, finally getting his bearings. "You have no claim to her."

"But I do," Isaac growls, turning away from me without an answer about my wellbeing. "Stay away from my sister, Porter."

"She will be mine," he snarls. "You can all count on that. That little bitch will belong to me."

Before I can say anything to defend myself, Samuel's fist connects with Gregory's jaw. A loud crack echoes through the tent, gathering all eyes on the scuffle in the middle of the dance floor. Gregory coddles his face, spitting out blood and laughing maniacally.

"I didn't think you had it in you," he taunts.

"What is happening over here," my father's voice booms, rattling each of us to the core. All of the boys take a step back, lowering their head towards my father.

"That's enough!" My mother shouts, her voice somehow much louder and scarier than my fathers. "This party is over!"

Hundreds of pack members that stand huddled around the dance floor, scurry away, scooping up their children and rushing home.

"I expect more from you," my mother says. I turn to look at her, seeing that she is speaking to Isaac, and then she looks to Sam. "Both of you. You are to be Alphas someday and this is how you behave?"

"Isaac did nothing wrong," I tell her, but her eyes stay trained on my brother. I grab my fathers arm, pleading with him to hear the truth, "please, Daddy. This was all his fault."

"My fault," Gregory repeats, scoffing. "I did nothing to provoke either of you into kicking and punching me. Alpha, Luna, please. I am so sorry for this disruption, but clearly, I am not at fault."

"Oh, fuck off," Isaac spits at him.

"Isaac Lysander," my mother scolds. "Not another word. Take your sister back to the house. And you two, sort this out yourselves. We will not stand for fighting like this in our territory."

"But Isaac and Sam did nothing wrong," I repeat.

"I don't want to hear it, Alexandria." She brushes me off, "you have more important things to be concerning yourself with. Now go."

I look at Sam. I offer him sympathy, but I want him to say something, anything. I don't want him to stay with Gregory, I want him to come with me. But he remains silent and unmoving, his fists clenched at his sides, slightly bruised to match his darkening eyes. He gives me a small nod and I feel better about leaving, but I still don't want to. I had lied to him before - I am scared. I'm not ready.